Monterey, CA Animal Ordinances: Pet Groomer Rules (2026)

" The Zoning Ordinance's land use tables treat grooming as one of the more permissive commercial uses: it is listed as a permitted ("P") use, not subject to a discretionary use permit, in the C-1 Neighborhood Commercial District under § 38-28 and in the C-2 Community Commercial District under § 38-29. By contrast, Animal Boarding in the same C-2 table requires a use permit, so a business that boards animals overnight, rather than only bathing and trimming them, is reviewed more closely. Because Animal Grooming is not listed among the use classifications in any "R" Residential district table (§§ 38-22 through 38-25), it is prohibited in residential zones; the ordinance states that a use classification not listed for a district is prohibited there.

A grooming business must also meet the parking standard applied in the district's off-street parking schedule: one space for every 500 square feet of floor area, the same ratio applied to Animal Hospitals. next to a residential zone, needs a use permit under the district's supplemental rules, even though grooming itself is otherwise permitted by right.